looking for links on 3 phase power options

[Midniteoyl]

And a 10HP starts around $850 from American Rotary.

Just offering.. Think about it. A 7.5hp motor cost just about that to begin with, and the Baldor 213T frame is a 'throw away' motor.. But, its your shop.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bal...jIHIAQ&ved=0CC4Qsxg&biw=1212&bih=574&dpr=1.43

 

[Midniteoyl]

As an aside, heres a 3 motor 150hp converter built for the local power company. Should here it soft start - sounds like a jet spooling up

 

[AGRIMAN]

A few years back i was in the same boat as you are. I needed 3 phase power to run my new PC oven and they wanted close to 60k to run it to my shop. I'm no electrician but luckily I know a good one, we bought a 30 HP RPC and I have been very happy with it.

The only warning I got was to make sure the motor (on the oven) came to a complete stop before shutting the converter off. They said the back feed from the spinning motor could damage the converter.

My guys installed it and after looking it over good, he told me that he could have built it for about half what we paid for it.

I had planned on getting a 7.5 to 10HP RPC, however prices for a new one range from about $700 to several thousand. From my reading it may be possible to "gang" or run them in serial such that if they are the right type I could get a 7.5hp and later a 5hp and be able to use about 12hp of that.

There is also a lot written about DIY phase converters.

I started this thread asking for online links, I've sat thru many YouTube videos where the guys talk for 10 minutes and don't tell anything about how they built theirs.

So do y'all have any cache of bookmarks?

/edit - I found this one site Rotary Phase Converter selling 10HP for about $700 and kits for less. It actually looks like with a $100 Kit and a $200 (or less) motor I could have a 10HP phase converter.

 

[Midniteoyl]

They always say that.. then they try and fail. Look, most of the cost is the motor itself. Depending on the model and quantity, the profit margin is between 7% and 20%... there just isnt many ways to save except use the cheapest parts available...

Funny how many here spend untold thousands on implements they will use once every year or three, but skimp on protecting $30k worth of equipment... I dont get it. Its like buying a $40k tractor and then not wanting to spend $2k on a shelter for it.. or feeding it 50 year old deisel..

 

[CalG]

If money is an issue.

Take the piece of equipment that has the biggest electric motor that can be disconnected from it's drive or that running it doesn't bother you noise or safety wise.

Get a static converter to suit that motor. With all the machine tools wired to the same "three phase sub panel" , when that first motor is acting as the "spinner" Your good for any combination the rest.

Ive got a pair of grinders done up this way. The surface grinder has the static "Phase-a-Matic" and the T&C grinder is wired to that. I useually turn both on whenever I'm using either. The more motors you have running, the better quality three phase is the result.

There is a forum called "Practical Machinist" It has a subforum on Phase Converters , Transformers and VFDs. More knowledge than you can shake a stick at. Even a sticky on RPC plans.
Transformers, Phase Converters and VFD

Just read the rules on posting. It can be a tough bunch.

VFD's run into money when you need a bunch of them. I have 5 in service in my shops. All second hand even is NIB. They have a learning curve. For wood working, The drill press and band saw get's the best use of the variable speed function.

good luck



Wire and breakers to match the requirements.

 

[BHD]

My thought was if you can score all that machinery, one should be able to find a used 10 HP three phase motor and pick up a static starter (phase converter), and like said above you have a rotary converter.

Ii started out with a static converter on my mill, then went to a surplus rotary converter and now have open like delta three phase, (only takes two transformers to make form of three phase and also it is on 240 instead of 208 so all single phase is not effected.

 

[Mendonsy]

These guys have some nice inverters that are made to be phase converters, not just re-purposed VFDs.
AC Drive, DC Drive, VFD, Variable Frequency Drive, Variable Speed Drive, Adjustable Speed Drive, Adjustable Frequency Drive

 

[newbury]

They always say that.. then they try and fail. Look, most of the cost is the motor itself. Depending on the model and quantity, the profit margin is between 7% and 20%... there just isnt many ways to save except use the cheapest parts available...

Funny how many here spend untold thousands on implements they will use once every year or three, but skimp on protecting $30k worth of equipment... I dont get it. Its like buying a $40k tractor and then not wanting to spend $2k on a shelter for it.. or feeding it 50 year old deisel..

In this case it's buying $900 worth of machinery and not wanting to spend $1000 on it.

If money is an issue.

Take the piece of equipment that has the biggest electric motor that can be disconnected from it's drive or that running it doesn't bother you noise or safety wise.

Get a static converter to suit that motor. With all the machine tools wired to the same "three phase sub panel" , when that first motor is acting as the "spinner" Your good for any combination the rest.

Ive got a pair of grinders done up this way. The surface grinder has the static "Phase-a-Matic" and the T&C grinder is wired to that. I useually turn both on whenever I'm using either. The more motors you have running, the better quality three phase is the result.

There is a forum called "Practical Machinist" It has a subforum on Phase Converters , Transformers and VFDs. More knowledge than you can shake a stick at. Even a sticky on RPC plans.
Transformers, Phase Converters and VFD

Just read the rules on posting. It can be a tough bunch.

VFD's run into money when you need a bunch of them. I have 5 in service in my shops. All second hand even is NIB. They have a learning curve. For wood working, The drill press and band saw get's the best use of the variable speed function.

good luck



Wire and breakers to match the requirements.

Thanks! That was the type link I was asking for, VERY informative.

My thought was if you can score all that machinery, one should be able to find a used 10 HP three phase motor and pick up a static starter (phase converter), and like said above you have a rotary converter.

Ii started out with a static converter on my mill, then went to a surplus rotary converter and now have open like delta three phase, (only takes two transformers to make form of three phase and also it is on 240 instead of 208 so all single phase is not effected.

I'm looking for a motor now

 

[dstig1]

PM is a good site overall, but the owner is a real pr!ck, IMHO. There is lots of good info there on VFDs and phase converters. Also Homeshopmachinist.net is another great forum without the attitude you get from PM. There is lots of good 3phase/VFD info on HSM also, so those are great sources, but the limit is that 3phase metal machines are not really the same as WW machines. Many WW machines are much higher hp than common metal machines and can often require heavy starting loads. Not so true of a simple Bridgeport or small engine lathe, so you need to keep that in mind. This is why you see VFDs pushed more on the machinist forums than in WW ones - they are very cost effective for a single lower power item like a mill, and have other advantages liek reversing. Few of these things apply to WW tools. Your planer will be the one that drives this, as you already know. As you also know, these are not sensitive electronics. They are simple induction motors. So as long as they get sufficient voltage and power, they will run fine. There will be some losses from even a rotary phase converter, so you will take a hit, but unless you have run them on real 3 phase you probably won't be able to tell. Once you start your large load, the other loads should be able to run at the same time also as the one load helps the system out a bit with capacity. In a 1-man shop, it is rare to use more than 2 tools at a time, so this is probably moot. Something like a 10hp rotary would seem to be perfect for you, unless you think you will get higher HP stuff in the future. I would also just set yourself up a subpanel for this. Feed the rotary from your panel and then feed a subpanel from that so you can run the 3 phase where you need it and add circuits as required. Of course the subpanel needs to be a 3 phase panel.

You already found the WNY source, which is a decent one. Here is an old resource on making your own rotary with a lot of explanation. This was originally posted in the mid-late 90's, so it was the early days of the web. I am amazed to see it still up...
phaseconverter

And of course if your tools run backwards, just swap any 2 wires and you should be running the right way. This is also where a subpanel can be really helpful.

Hope this helps

 

[Midniteoyl]

In this case it's buying $900 worth of machinery and not wanting to spend $1000 on it.


Thanks! That was the type link I was asking for, VERY informative.
I'm looking for a motor now

AHHH!! Now I see.. if I got all that for $900, i'd be doing the same Good job finding that deal!